Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Talks Designing His First-Ever Signature Sneaker
Style“The shoe is called the Shai 001, so Shai should be involved,” the Oklahoma City Thunder star tells GQ of his new Converse kicks.By Calum MarshFebruary 17, 2025NBA Photos/Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveOn Friday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander strolled into the Converse Shai Studio—a special pop-up at NBA All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area to celebrate the launch of the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s first signature sneaker—looking to make a statement. Arguably the most fashionable player in the NBA, the Hamilton, Ontario native paid tribute to his homeland in a crisp Canadian tuxedo. And on his feet? A pair of the brand new, cornflake yellow Converse Shai 001s, of course, which didn’t look the least bit out of place in this more casual setting. For all the elite tech beneath the hood, the Shai 001 was obviously designed to shine off the hardwood, too.To drive their versatility home, Gilgeous-Alexander wore the Shai 001s everywhere throughout the weekend: at his own lookalike contest held at a downtown Foot Locker, paired with a matching yellow sweatsuit; in the tunnel at Chase Center, stunting in an oversized fur coat; and during the All-Star Game’s new mini tournament format, in which his Global Stars team fell to the OGs in the finals.The Converse Shai 001 on the court during NBA All-Star Weekend. Chris Schwegler/Getty ImagesThe Shai 001 was a long time coming for Gilgeous-Alexander, who purportedly had an unusually heavy hand in designing them thanks to his role as creative director of Converse Basketball. The timing of the shoe’s arrival couldn’t be better: Shai is having the best season of his career, leading the Thunder to the best record in the league and firmly establishing himself as the frontrunner for MVP. “Don’t jinx it,” he chided one fan who mentioned a possible championship in his future during the launch event. But it doesn’t seem possible for anything to halt Gilgeous-Alexander’s momentum at the moment—and his long-awaited signature sneaker is just the chery on top.It helps that the sneaker itself is a beauty: sleek, streamlined, and super futuristic, with an Air Jordan 14-esque zipper along the upper that helps to give the silhouette its court-to-street versatility. The launch colorway, dubbed “Butter,” is at once bold and understated, perfect for pairing with all manner of fits. And while there’s no guarantee that the Shai 001 will make that rarest of leaps into the regular rotations of sneakerheads, if anyone can make it happen, it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.GQ caught up with Shai during ASW about designing the sneaker, his first Olympics experience, and what he likes to eat back home in Hamilton.GQ: The Shai 001 looks great as a lifestyle shoe. I'm assuming that was intentional from the start?Absolutely.It's been difficult for performance shoes to break through in that way recently, where people wear them not only to play basketball. Do you think there's a reason for that beyond just the way they look?I think part of it is how they look, and part of it is just that you have to go out there and do it—be brave and not care what anybody thinks. Like, Mike did it a long time ago. Of course, people were probably looking at him crazy, but now look at that, they're everywhere. So you just have to be brave and not care about other opinions.What was it about the style of the Shai 001 that you thought would be a difference maker?I think the zipper. Like, with the zipper being able to go from a tighter to a looser fit, maybe giving you a different silhouette when you're walking off the court.The idea is that you zip it up to play ball, and then you unzip it when you're just walking around?For sure.You played in your first Olympics with Canada this past summer. Do you feel a difference in terms of fatigue level?No, not really, to be honest. I feel a lot better. Every summer that I play with the national team, I feel like I come into the season in better conditioning. Because I’m playing real games throughout the summer.More in the rhythm?Yeah, more in the rhythm of playing with a referee. A lot of times in the past, let’s say we were done with the season in April, and I wouldn’t play until October. That’s a lot of months without live-action basketball. The national team allows me to stay in rhythm and stay upbeat with the game.What do you feel is next for Team Canada?We’re obviously moving in the right direction. We made the Olympics for the first time in a long time. It didn't go how we wanted it to, but it was a step in the right direction. As long as we keep building on that, we’ll eventually get to where we want to be. That’s the main focus—seeing it grow.Gilgeous-Alexander taking flight in the Shai 001. Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty ImagesYou grew up in Hamilton, Ontario. What’s your favorite restaurant when you’re back home?You know, it’s so crazy—when I’m home now, I only eat my mom’s food. Ever since I moved away from home at 16, every time I come back, I don’t leave the hous
On Friday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander strolled into the Converse Shai Studio—a special pop-up at NBA All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area to celebrate the launch of the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s first signature sneaker—looking to make a statement. Arguably the most fashionable player in the NBA, the Hamilton, Ontario native paid tribute to his homeland in a crisp Canadian tuxedo. And on his feet? A pair of the brand new, cornflake yellow Converse Shai 001s, of course, which didn’t look the least bit out of place in this more casual setting. For all the elite tech beneath the hood, the Shai 001 was obviously designed to shine off the hardwood, too.
To drive their versatility home, Gilgeous-Alexander wore the Shai 001s everywhere throughout the weekend: at his own lookalike contest held at a downtown Foot Locker, paired with a matching yellow sweatsuit; in the tunnel at Chase Center, stunting in an oversized fur coat; and during the All-Star Game’s new mini tournament format, in which his Global Stars team fell to the OGs in the finals.
The Shai 001 was a long time coming for Gilgeous-Alexander, who purportedly had an unusually heavy hand in designing them thanks to his role as creative director of Converse Basketball. The timing of the shoe’s arrival couldn’t be better: Shai is having the best season of his career, leading the Thunder to the best record in the league and firmly establishing himself as the frontrunner for MVP. “Don’t jinx it,” he chided one fan who mentioned a possible championship in his future during the launch event. But it doesn’t seem possible for anything to halt Gilgeous-Alexander’s momentum at the moment—and his long-awaited signature sneaker is just the chery on top.
It helps that the sneaker itself is a beauty: sleek, streamlined, and super futuristic, with an Air Jordan 14-esque zipper along the upper that helps to give the silhouette its court-to-street versatility. The launch colorway, dubbed “Butter,” is at once bold and understated, perfect for pairing with all manner of fits. And while there’s no guarantee that the Shai 001 will make that rarest of leaps into the regular rotations of sneakerheads, if anyone can make it happen, it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
GQ caught up with Shai during ASW about designing the sneaker, his first Olympics experience, and what he likes to eat back home in Hamilton.
Absolutely.
I think part of it is how they look, and part of it is just that you have to go out there and do it—be brave and not care what anybody thinks. Like, Mike did it a long time ago. Of course, people were probably looking at him crazy, but now look at that, they're everywhere. So you just have to be brave and not care about other opinions.
I think the zipper. Like, with the zipper being able to go from a tighter to a looser fit, maybe giving you a different silhouette when you're walking off the court.
For sure.
No, not really, to be honest. I feel a lot better. Every summer that I play with the national team, I feel like I come into the season in better conditioning. Because I’m playing real games throughout the summer.
Yeah, more in the rhythm of playing with a referee. A lot of times in the past, let’s say we were done with the season in April, and I wouldn’t play until October. That’s a lot of months without live-action basketball. The national team allows me to stay in rhythm and stay upbeat with the game.
We’re obviously moving in the right direction. We made the Olympics for the first time in a long time. It didn't go how we wanted it to, but it was a step in the right direction. As long as we keep building on that, we’ll eventually get to where we want to be. That’s the main focus—seeing it grow.
You know, it’s so crazy—when I’m home now, I only eat my mom’s food. Ever since I moved away from home at 16, every time I come back, I don’t leave the house. I eat her food all the time.
Exactly. Not at all.
Yeah, yeah. Probably Cactus Club—my default go-to. Or Soto Soto.
My ideas come when I’m on the plane and have nothing to do—no service, no Wi-Fi. I have no choice but to focus. But yeah, it’s pretty tight during the season. You play so many games, and on off days, you just want to chill, not work. But honestly, it’s something I enjoy so much that it doesn’t really feel like work. Whenever I get a chance, I attack it a little.
I feel like it was only right. The shoe is called the Shai 001, so Shai should be involved. Shai should love the shoe. It should look how Shai wants it to look. I’d be doing a disservice if I wasn’t involved.
Pretty early. I wore Kobes all the time. Kobe had his own shoe. Obviously, Jordan. The marquee guys—the guys you watch the game for—they always had signatures. That was part of the package.
Performance—that’s the most important thing. And then the player behind it. Kobe is Kobe. People wear Jordans because of Michael Jordan. The player does the work, and if they’re good on the court, the shoe will take care of itself.
